Lili Krakowski on tue 18 jul 06
I follow the recurring discussion of critique (maiden name: criticism) with
diligence and incomprehension.
I understand "critique" was substituted for "criticism", because the
latter apparently has a negative connotation, the common whine " You are
CRITICIZING me! " when one says anything short of fulsome praise.
So "critique" supposedly is this cold, objective, clear-eyed explanation in
simple terms of one's opinion of something. Yet there is no such thing as
a cold, objective, clear-eyed opinion, because we ALL inevitably,
unavoidably bring our own selves into it.
My [literary] agent, James O. Brown said: "Never change a word unless they
are paying you for it!" And he was right.
If a shop ONLY will take your pots IF you glaze them blue, your decision.
Their $. If customers at your booth ONLY buy small cream pitchers and leave
the 1.5 quart ones--it is their money, and if you want it, you must please
them. The market place is the best, if cruelest, critic.
And then: in my schooldays, and sometimes still today, I beg the opinion of
people who actually know pots and say stuff like: "What food do you think
will be 'flattered' by that glaze, mmm?" or " That knob is too small for a
lid that has to be removed using a potholder." This, I understand. ANY
technical, practical observations are wonderful.
But today's competitive potting is beyond me. People enter shows, apply to
programs, submit things to magazines, and then feel hurt when the
SUBJECTIVE, PERSONAL TASTE of the jurors differs from their own. With the
greatest respect, why SHOULD some saintly person in Newark, NJ who happens
to be juror on The Big Show like what you like? Yes. Sometimes a juror
nixes a pot for the reasons above: it is badly designed, the glaze does not
fit the use, and like that. Sometimes a juror thinks the pot ugly, klutzy,
unworthy of houseroom. Sometimes a juror nixes a pot because it is
OVER-designed: it claims to be a cereal bowl, but could not survive a week
in the average household. Beautiful, but don't claim it's functional. But
a lot--dare I say most?-- of the time the juror just does not like THAT pot,
THAT kind of work, and so on.
Why should this matter? If you want to make pots to please one or two
individuals I would suggest you study THEIR work, get to know them, and make
pots you feel they will like. (i.e. learn to suck up!) And if you want to
make pots that sell, select (if you can) your market, and make pots to
please it. And if you are a mature, introspective, skilled potter you will
make the pots that reveal YOU, and speak for and of YOU, and bring to the
(gaping, astounded, adoring) public your own personal statement, executed in
some wondrous way.
My point is that criticism/critique/opining is just that. A dialogue. You
say what you have to say, and the Critic says what she has to say. It is not
more than that....except, of course, when grades and promotions are
attached, in which case I refer you back to pleasing one of two individuals,
as above.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
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